Rage against Israel as bloody offensive batters Gaza

Part of the London march in solidarity with people in Gaza last Saturday (Pic: Guy Smallman)

As Israel’s relentless attacks on Gaza claim hundreds of Palestinian lives, hundreds of thousands of people around the world are rising up in anger. There were protests every day last week.

People have marched in the capitals of European countries and in US cities from New York, Chicago and Los Angeles to Minneapolis.

Tens of thousands protested in Chile and South Africa.

Across the border from Palestine in Syria and Egypt, activists stood up against Israel even though they had to take on attacks from their own brutal governments.

Among the biggest protests was in London on Saturday of last week, where up to 100,000 people streamed through the streets in one of the biggest anti-war demonstrations in years.

People from across Britain, including many Muslim men and women of all ages, turned out in a collective cry of rage. The huge crowd was young, loud and militant, with flags, placards and faces painted in Palestinian colours.

Thousands chanted “shame on you” in unison outside Downing Street.

Hadji Nasir Ahmed travelled from Doncaster while fasting for Ramadan. He told Socialist Worker, “I knew I had to come and protest when I saw those lads killed playing football on the beach.”

The march was called by Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Stop the War Coalition, the Muslim Association of Britain (MAB) and others.

Demonstrations also took place in other cities, with thousands of people from across Scotland taking to the streets in Glasgow.

In London Roksana Ali from East Ham said, “The siege must end and the borders open. And our government needs to stop selling Israel weapons.”

The protest ended with a rally at the Israeli embassy, where a speaker from the MAB defended the Palestinian resistance. “If Britain was under occupation, all of us would be taking up arms,” he said.

Birmingham councillor Mariam Khan said, “This is an international demonstration. Around the world people are protesting.

“Israel said the old would die and the young would forget—but we will never forget Palestine.”